We will see. ( 1 Corinthians 13 )

 In 1 Corinthians 3 v 10 - 17, the apostle Paul  writes about judgement day ,and how it affects the believer,  he reminds them , as one writer says,that the foundation that believer stands on is Jesus Christ,His work saves and that alone.Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe.The scriptures clearly teaches,that we are not saved by our works,no matter how wonderful they are, CP  Ephesians 2 v 8 - 9. The passage in 1 Corinthians 3 deals with the rewards for the service we have rendered Christ, our works will entered be burnt up as rubbish or they will remain, and God will honour and reward us.As we move into 1 Cor, 4, we are told ,that we are not to make judgements before the time, on people or their service,only Christ is qualified to do that, one writer puts it like this.'When he comes, he will bring out in the open and place in evidence all kinds of things we never dreamed of- inner motives,and purposes and prayers. Only then will anyone of us will get to hear the''Well done! ''of God'

                                                        'Teach me, my God and King,

                                                         In all things Thee to see;

                                                        And what I do in anything,

                                                        To do it as for Thee.

                                                              Words . G. Herbert.

War and Peace. ( Revelation 21 v 1 - 4 )

Arthur Wellesley otherwise known as the Duke of Wellington, was one of England's greatest generals,said, 'War is a terrible evil'. As one writer wrote of him,'Military genus though he was, he had no illusions about the human cost of a battle,even when it was won.' After his most famous victory ,the battle of Waterloo, as he surveyed the awful carnage,he declared,' Next to a battle lost, the greatest misery is a battle gained'.Again one has said, 'that after Cain slew his brother Abel the world has been a slaughter house ', such is the sad history of humanity.There has never been a time in history when this world has been at peace,one of the most delusional statements ever made was after the first world war  someone said,'It was the war to end all wars'. As a Christian I believe Jesus is coming again,I look forward to this great event,for it mean the end of wars,of killing ,of violence. Murder is not a mystery,it comes out of our sinful human nature,the driven necessity of humanity to kill continues unabated, and will do , until the Prince of peace comes back.The question is, will you be ready for that great day?, I hope so.

Are you burdened ?.( Matthew 11 v 28 )

At times problems come into our lives,it may be to with family, friends,illness ,and the burdens lay heavy on our hearts.One of my sons is having difficulties, and its lying heavy on my heart. This morning I took my wife's breakfast up to her,and  as I entered the bread room , I was met with a Christian song  playing on TV,an old song I am familiar with it, the title is ,'Burdens are lifted at Calvary', it ministered to my heart,it was a God sent reassuring message for me, I will share it with you, and pray it will be a blessing to you, words are by, John.M. Moore.

                                                Days are filled with sorrow and care,

                                                Hearts are lonely and drear;

                                                Burdens are lifted at Calvary,

                                               Jesus is very near.

                                               Cast your care on Jesus today,

                                               Leave your worry and fear;

                                               Burdens are lifted at Calvary, 

                                               Jesus is very near.

                                               Troubled soul,the Saviour can see,

                                               Every heartache and tear;

                                               Burdens are lifted at Calvary,

                                              Jesus is very near.

Basic things. ( Psalm 100 )

 Dale Ralph Davis  writes about small mercies,this is what he wrote,' I like Luther's 'Small  ' because it keeps me from  escaping this 'basic level' of thanksgiving. When he deals with the (' I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of  heaven and earth'), he asks, 'What does this mean?' His answer is couched in terms of a male householder in Reformation times;.....So here is what the creed means;

I believe that God has created me and all that exists, that he has given and still preserves to me body and soul,eyes, ears, and all my limbs, my reason and all my senses; and also clothing and shoes, food and drink,house and home,wife and child, land,cattle, and all my property; that he provides me richly and daily with all  the necessaries of life, protects me from all danger, and preserves and guards me against all evil; and all  this out of pure paternal divine goodness and mercy, without any merit or worthiness of mine; for all which  I am bound to thank, praise,serve, and obey him. This is most certainly true.' 

Let us not forget the basic things, like like a glass of water,a cup tea or coffee,a bar of soap, toothpaste, and so on, and lets give thanks for them.

The Messiah. ( John 18 v 36/ 20 v 28)

 Our Saviour had many confrontations with the leaders of his day,one of the most significant took place when our Saviour  asked the Pharisees ,'What do you think about the Messiah?Whose son is he?. 'The son of David ',they replied.He said to them,' How is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him ''Lord''? For he says,'' The Lord says to my Lord; 'Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet''. If  then David calls him ''Lord'', how can he be his son?' Matthew 22 v 41- 45.William  Hendriksen points out a number of important things about this passage of scripture, Jesus made no objections to being called ,''Son of David'' C P Matthew 9 v27 /15 v 22/ 20v 30/ Mark 10 v 47- 48/ Luke 18 v 38-39. Son of David was acknowledged to be the title used for the Messiah, of course the Jews understanding of Messiah related to this  world, he would destroy their enemies,and set up a Millennial Kingdom,and they with him, would rule over the kingdoms of this world. WH writes,' The earthly ideas attached to the concept'' Son of David'' or ''Messiah'' must be removed, CP, John 18 v36. The time has arrived to prepare the audience for the idea that the title''Son of David'' means more than was generally realized.The Pharisees  must learn that David's Son is also David's Lord. Not only is he a man; he is also God!'.One writer says this,'Those who listened had the awed and uncomfortable feeling that they had heard the voice of God, and for a moment, in this man Jesus, they glimpsed the very face of God'

The have nots.( Proverbs 28 v 27 )

I was watching a movie about a rich couple befriended a very poor person, they let him live with them, and there is a moment in the movie when he is shown his bedroom. The lad looks a bit overwhelmed, and the wife of the couple says to him,'I  suppose you never a bedroom before?'.he replied,'no I have never had a bed of my own'. For many the real world is made up of children ,who have never had a bed of their own,never had a pair of shoes,never had clean water to drink, never had new clothes to wear,never had a home to live in,never tasted chocolate. Never had someone who told them that they loved them,and have never heard about the love of Jesus. Such is the world that we lived in,we glibly speak of the haves and the have nots, and that's that. We who have, neglect the poor to our cost, we will be the poor ones, remember we are not saved by our good works , but the evidence that we are saved,is our good works,as James says we are to show our faith by our good works. ( James 2 v 18 )

/,he replied

Request Denied. ( 1 John 5 v 14 - 15 )

 He wrote many of the Psalms, he was king of Israel,a man after God's own heart, his name was David, but God refused hie request ,to be allowed to build a temple (1 Chronicles 17). In 2 Chron 28 v 3 David tells us why,he was a warrior, and had shed much blood.David never showed any resentment as regards his request being rejected.God said his son Solomon would build it, so instead of feeling hurt or getting angry he provided all that was necessary for his son to build the temple.The fact is God will not always give us what we request,it is important for us to see this. I wanted to be a missionary,God did not grant me my request,in hindsight I understand  that His will must prevail, not mine. I know so very little ,I do not always know why God says no,but it is important,to accept it as I have said ,His will must prevails. Even though Davids request was a noble admirable request it was not in God's will to grant his request.It did not mean that He did not love David, for it is obvious that He did, He was not rejecting David ,he was rejecting His request. Let us turn to one dark night in a garden were a lonely figure lay prostrate on the ground,and He was praying with such an intensity that he sweated as it were great drops of blood.He was facing suffering greater than what any other human would ever face.Here is what He prayed,' My Father , if it is not  possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done'.Someone has said every true prayer has at its heart, those words,'your will be done', his name was Jesus.